Effects of Sn-containing intermetallic compounds on the thermal decomposition and ignition properties of RDX and TKX-50

In order to develop efficient combustion catalysts for solid propellants, three intermetallic compounds of Sn-Cu, Sn-Co and Sn-Ni were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and their effects on the thermal decomposition and ignition properties of 1,3,5-trinitroperhy-dro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and 5,5'-bistetrazole-1,1'-diolate (TKX-50) were studied systemically. The results show that Sn-Cu, Sn-Co and Sn-Ni can all promote the thermal decomposition of RDX, which reduce the exothermic decomposition peak temperature of RDX by 3.2, 1.9 and 4.8 ?, respectively. And the apparent activation energy of RDX was reduced by 82.1 kJ.mol(-1) after adding the Sn-Ni intermetallic compound. In comparison with RDX, the exothermic peak temperature of TKX-50 was reduced more significantly, which was decreased by 11.9, 1.5 and 6.6 ? in the existence of Sn-Cu, Sn-Co and Sn-Ni, respectively. Additionally, Sn-containing intermetallic compound could reduce the ignition delay time of RDX under high power laser density, while the ignition delay time of TKX-50 could be decreased in the full power density range of the experiment. Besides, the flame combustion intensity and propagation rate of RDX and TKX-50 were significantly heightened by adding the three compounds. The comparison of pyrolysis and ignition performance before and after adding Sn-containing intermetallic compound into RDX and TKX-50 shows that Sn-containing intermetallic compound has great application prospects for improving the heat release and combustion characteristic of solid propellants. (C) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The effects of Sn-Cu, Sn-Co, and Sn-Ni intermetallic compounds on the thermal decomposition and ignition properties of RDX and TKX-50 were studied. The results show that these compounds can promote the thermal decomposition of RDX and reduce the exothermic peak temperature of TKX-50. Additionally, the compounds can reduce the ignition delay time and enhance the flame combustion intensity and propagation rate of both RDX and TKX-50.